Avoiding activities, places, thoughts/feelings that remind you of the trauma

Inability to remember important aspects of the trauma

Loss of interest in activiates and life in general

Feeling detached from others and emotionally numb

Sense of limited future

Difficulty falling/staying asleep

Irritability or outbursts of anger

Difficulty concentrating

Hypervigilance

Feeling jumpy and easily startled

Guilt, shame, self-blame

Substance abuse

Depression and hopelessness

Suicidal thoughts and feelings

Feeling alienated and alone

Feelings of mistrust and betrayal

Headaches, stomach problems, chest pain

It is important to seek help and much easier with therapy and support. You can recover from posttraumatic stress disorder. If you try to avoid or numb yourself it will only get worse. You can’t escape your emotions-they emerge when you are under stress or let down your guard. You can heal your relationships and regain your ability to function and improve your general quality of life.